FB: Northwest Conference

['Cats Fa Natic]

Yeah...I'm hoping, really really hopig that what we are seeing is a great Western team rather than a bad Wildcat team....

No, it was a bad Wildcat team. WOU, give them credit, but there's no escaping it. That was dispiriting.

We've kicked WOU pretty bad the last few years, I guess this is payback.  I really liked it much better the other way around.

['Cats Fa Natic]

Have the Cats tried a draw play tonight?

Yes. Over and over. They usually went for negative yards.

Some thoughts on this. Benzel's body language was just giving it away too much. He needs to learn to disguise the ball better and slip it into the RBs hands. He's not the worst at it but he needs to improve. Maybe he ought to practice magic tricks. Seriously. It's a sleight of hand and he just didn't have it.

The O line was bad. They couldn't open holes tonight and because we weren't hitting the passes, stopping the run became easy.

Perhaps we ought to have tried a two-tight-end formation once or twice. If they're pushing us around that much, get some bigger bodies in there. The four wides wasn't working, that's for sure.

['Cats Fa Natic]

Game over.
I'ld like to hear what those at the game have to say.

Ugly.

Linfield had no desire tonight. WOU did, and it showed.

When's the last time our O only scored 7 points in a game?

['Cats Fa Natic]

First of all Congrats to the wolves on a good clean game. You were hungry for the win and you deserved it.

I was talking with a cat assistant coach last month about the team with the best chance of ending Linfields regular season win streak and he said Hardin Simmons which I and just about anybody else would agree with. However, when I mentioned the WOU game he insinuated it would be easy.
I don't think that's the kind of attitude any coach should have.

I absolutely agree with you. That's the wrong kind of attitude and I really think a large part of the problems tonight stemmed from the coachs. They did not have that team ready. My wife nailed it. At one point she turned to me and said, "It's like I keep expecting the first string to go in." The team just wasn't there tonight.

As for Tim Benzel I wouldn't be hard on the kid. the wolves were all over him when he dropped back to pass.

This, I have to disagree with. He was bad. Even when he didn't have pressure, he was off the mark and many times by wide margins. He's got to learn to handle pressure and how to get out of it. Sure, the O line was bad, but if you can hit your receivers, the LBs will start playing back a bit so you don't pick them apart. Benzel wasn't doing that. And because he wasn't hitting, the D came with their ears pinned back.  I'll give him another couple weeks, but if he can't pull it together, then he's got to be pulled.

I went over and had a chance to say Hi to Abby. I'll be honest and say its the best sounding pep band I've heard at the catdome ( no disrespect Bluenote and Tuxguy) now if only they could somehow pipe it into the speakers or borrow some portable units.

Yes! It was a great band. They did a nice job, sounded top-notch, and it was great to have them back.

['Cats Fa Natic]

Okay, signing off. I'll be very interested to hear what the other members who went to the game have to say.

[wildkit58]

Nothing tonight resembled  LINFIELD football.   I don't know what to say.   I kept waiting for something to happen - a big pass, run, block, - something to get us going, but it never happened.  It's been a long time since I've been dumbfounded and speechless after a regular season Linfield game but that's what I am. All I can say right now is, hopefully next week we will see the WILDCATS show up in Texas.

Congrats to wolves.  As 'Cats Fa Natic stated "They palyed like they wanted it more and it showed. Linfield had no desire tonight. WOU did, and it showed."  Lets hope the Cats (both players & coaches) take notice.

[shane falco]

Lay off of Benzel, that's his first game as the starting QB, it takes awhile to settle in.  He's obviously got the talent.  Just remember, he doesn't have Allen or Hazenburg to throw to

WOU has some really good athletes, probably better than the Cat's will see all season, unless they play against St. Johns or Mt. Union in the playoffs.

The Cat's will bounce back.

[hatchetman75]

Overall record: 4-3

Just above .500.  Gotta pull this together next week.  Not a bad week for predictions, but some of the results of the individual games astound me.

LC, PLU, and Menlo all figured into my scheme of things.  These will be the teams sinking to the bottom of the NWC pile. 

Along with Willamette, all things considered.  What an atrocious opening two games.  Next week we'll get to see if Willamette is better than PLU, as the Bearcats play against Cal Lu.  I won't make any bets yet, but this one will be close.

Whitworth showed their mettle yesterday.  Redlands wasn't a push-over, and Whitworth seemed to display a solid mix of offense and defense.  The Pirates , with Linfield temporarily off the radar, are the team to beat.  Besides Puget Sound, that is.

Linfield! As everyone in the Cat nation has said, "Who would've expected this?"  Actually, it didn't surprise me, but I would've figured the game closer than it was.  As I was settling to bed, I thought I heard a "whooshing" noise.  Must've been the collective cats nation heaving a monumentous sigh of disappointment.

Props go to Whitworth and UPS, the only undefeated's in the NWC.  And Puget Sound for standing at the top of the pack.  I think its been years/decades since that happened.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Hatchetman:

With all due respect, wins over Whittier and LaVerne aren't the kinds of games that warrant a statement that Puget Sound is "standing at the top of the pack" unless you're looking solely at the W L record.  It's not like either of those two victories were blowouts . .  . looks to me like they could have gone either way.

It's been years since either Whittier or LaVerne have been in the top 3 in SCIAC. 

In my view, Whitworth's win over Redlands has a lot more significance than UPS's two victories.

And I wouldn't read too much into the 'Cats disappointing loss to WOU.  New offense settling in against what appears to be an improved DII team . . . I'm sure that 'Cat nation is disappointed, but I wouldn't be writing them off just yet.  It's early in the year, adjustments are to be made, chemistry and synch to be established . . .

. . .  from my view from down here in the south I'd still say that Linfield and Whitworth are the NWC teams to beat.

tooth

[George Thompson]

WOU 28 Linfield 14

Well, that was an embarrassment.   And it wasn't even that close.    Linfield hasn't been beaten that badly since Southern Oregon five years ago.   

Yes, it was a rout, as some predicted.  But it was WOU doing the routing.   Yes, we did reload.   But, there was a lot of mis-firing!

Congrats to WOU on a fine performance.   The last two years, Western Oregon was an average Division II team, at best; Linfield had two of their four straight Great Years.   Now, we see that a good Division II will beat a good Division III team. 

Still, Linfield looked terrible.  Many mistakes, both on offense and defense.  Some stupid errors.  The defense was better in the 2nd half.   But, the offense was non-existent.  Only one drive late in the game looked good.   Like last year, no running threat at all.

But, we Linfield fans have been spoiled and we are expecting too much.   This year's Linfield team will do OK.  But, comparing them to the last four years is unfair and unrealistic.

The Great Years, 2002-2005:
Read the current Linfield Media Guide.   The last four years' teams have completely re-written all time Linfield records.   And that is saying something.   Pages 46-49 show how these team and individual records.

The skill players were incredible:  Marty Williams, David Russell, Tyler Matthews, George Carter, Brandon Hazenberg, and Brad McKechnie will never be forgotten and won't soon be replaced, if ever.  And, time has proven that the great Brett Elliott was truly a Division I quarterback, playing at a Division III college.  Just look at his statistics.     

Four straight unbeaten regular season games.  Three losses in 47 games.  Western Region finals four straight times.   One National Championship.  And, with a break or two, we could have played for three more!

This Year:
Linfield is definitely rebuilding.  They now have to be a heavy underdog against Hardin-Simmons at Abilene, Texas next week.    And likely an underdog against Whitworth.   Also, Southern Oregon usually gives us fits.

Linfield might  win the NWC championship since the conference is still down.  But, winning any playoff games is another story.   

[cawcdad]

. . .LC, PLU, and Menlo all figured into my scheme of things.  These will be the teams sinking to the bottom of the NWC pile.  . . .

I've seen Menlo in each of their first two games. They won't win the NWC, but they may surprise you. Granted the opponents weren't top tier but except for two special teams plays, the Oaks could easily be 2 - 0. They haven't given up an offensive TD and have had only one serious drive against them. Their offense has sputtered but I've seen some potential there. They have a good QB, excellent tight end and a running back who has some potential. We'll see how they do the next two weeks against Chapman and Willamette at home.

For the Cats, it's time to lick the wounds, learn from the mistakes, then put it behind them and get ready to go!!!

[dawgs go deep]

Cat Nation........Whitworth is good.  Solid offense led by a good qb and a solid defense, both sides of the ball have size and speed.  Redlands needs a qb also. Dont despair, win league and you are in the tourney, get there, that is all that matters...you can go from there, its a new season.

Motivation starts from the top, the coaching staff, the team leaders, the players the scout team. 
A lack of motivation is the downfall of great teams, and organizations, hopefully the Cats will get some after the loss.

Good luck the rest fo the way.

['Cats Fa Natic]

Lay off of Benzel, that's his first game as the starting QB, it takes awhile to settle in.  He's obviously got the talent.  Just remember, he doesn't have Allen or Hazenburg to throw to

...

The Cat's will bounce back.

"Obviously got the talent" on what do you base that?  His accuracy was way off and while I agree he doesn't have the same talented core of WRs to throw to, the accuracy has nothing to do with WRs with good hands. He badly overthrew some open receivers. As for settling in, that's what the first quarter is for, not the first game.

I agree tho. They'll bounce back. But that was a disappointing showing and the lackluster, no desire had GOT to go. If those kids are there to win, they can warm some other bench.

[D O.C.]

Gee...we lost a non-playoff game since half the guys in the school record book and the coach of the last 10 years moved on.
What, me worry?
                                                   

[Sabretooth Tiger]

So maybe my thoughts on Puget Sound's victories need to be tweaked:

From the Pasadena Star News:

"A week after the Loggers (2-0) ground out a 26-19 win at Whittier College, Puget Sound outgained the Leopards 207-40 on the ground in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated."

Link to full article:

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/sports/ci_4314404

tooth